St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-07
JAKE sHARP's CASE.
The Attempt to Influence Jurors---
A Sensational Day.

"A SenSaClOnal LAY.
New YORK, June 6.-JacOb Sharp'S
trial is just at present in peculiarly
complicated position, as a result of the
statement by the district attorney be-
fore the jurors already chosen about the
alleged attempt at ''fXing'' jurors to
hold out for Sharp. The defense, it is
reported, will maintain that the jurors
cannot but have been Influenced by this
statement The defense will probably
move to have the box emptied on the
ground that the accusations of attempted
embracery have doubtless prejudiced
the eleven men against the defendant.
Assistant District Attorney NicOl is GER
tain that this motion will not prevail.
Ii it should prevail, it would prob
ably be claimed by the defense
that the motion restores to them their
right of twenty peremptory challenges,
as the motion will wipe out all the pro-
ceedings that have passed. Whether
the motion prevails or not the trial will
be delayed. To-day 1862 persons who
had been summoned as Jurors in the
case, but who had not responded when
their names were called, had been
ordered to appear and
SHOW CAUSE
why they should not be punished
for contempt. The court had also set
apart this morning for investigating
the charge made last week by the
district attorney that attempts had been
made to corrupt the jurors.
Juror No. 9. John II. Hudson, was the
first witness called. Before he was
sworn. Mr.. Parsons, for the defense,
objected to this form of investigation,
and Judge Barrett went on to state that
a a hat nd
Gated that some one was either guilty of
the crime of embracery or at least of
contempt of court. The court of ap-
peals has held that in these cases the
court cannot, on its own motion, COM
NIT or punish in contempt on the trial of
a criminal Indictment in such case as
this, nor can the district attorney on his
motion procure an investigation. Such
proceedings can only be made ON motion
of the defendant. The district attorney
HAD NO POWER
to procure the affidavitS the defense
asks for. The only course the district
attorney had was to make his state
mentS. which were made On the invita-
ton of the defendant, and the court un-
derstands the defense courts such an
investigation, and the witnesses were
summoned to be examined here to-day.
As the court understands it, the defense
asks that a proceeding not allowed by
law be taken, and an investigation
which would be no Investigation, though
the court does not suppose that the
counsel for the defense thinks that this
is the status of the case. But such it
is, substantially. Mr.. Parsons objected
to this position, and stated that Mr..
Sharp was compelled to challenge the
district attorney after the publication
o,, with rafarapca fO tho mot
ter, which had probably been secured
by the district attorney. Now, it ap-
pears. that after the district attorney
has made his most remarkable state
ment, he discovered that he cannot
move in the matter, and the court learns
that it cannot.
|. Judge Barrett knew it all the
while. The trouble is that the defense
wants to resort to an impossible way but
this is the only proper way.
Mr.. ParSonS-We have no objection
to the proceeding. Before the jury or
not is immaterial.
last Thursday afternoon an acquaintance
named Hoagland hailed him on the
street, and said, "Oh, you're on the
Sharp jury. Don't be hard on the old
man" Hudson said he remembered
what the Judge had said about the case
and checked him. Mr.. Hudson said he
DID NOT WANT TO BE EXCUSED
because of that reason. Judge Barrett:
ION this deposition being signed, l will
issue warrant for Hoagland's appear
ance." Charles KOhnweiler, the eighth
Juror, who was excused last Tuesday,
was sworn, and said that he
had never received any letters or
other communications. He told
the reporters he had received an
anonymous letter because he thought
they were irresponsible parties. Judge
Barrett (disgustedly)-''That will do;
you lied to the reporter, Mr.. Kohn-
weller" George Rupfel was sworn,
and testified that two young men had
said to him ''they wished they could get
on the jury, They could make S25, ,OO0."
George III. Sutton testified that man
by the name of Warner had told him he
(Sutton) would be challenged. The
court room was so overcrowded by the
two panels of jurors and the 161 delln-
quents that Judge Barrett excused all
but the witnesses for the people and
those required to show cause why they
should not be
PUNISHED FGR CONTEMPT.
The roll of delinquents was called, and
the Judge directed that those not an.
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